The first experience I had with a TP5 was when I found one on the golf course and put it into play. I was impressed with the ball flight, distance, and spin and started to wonder if the TP5 could be a replacement for the Pro V1 I normally have in play.
After a little testing with the TrackMan and some more on-course analysis, we have learned that these two golf balls are incredibly similar, apart from one factor – spin. If you are thinking of making the switch from the Pro V1 to the TP5 or vice versa, this should give you all the information and data you need.
At A Glance
The most glaring design difference between the TP5 and the Pro V1 is the number of pieces. The Pro V1 is a 3-piece ball whereas the TP5 is a 5-piece. We often talk about how more layers in your golf ball help to increase the depth of performance. When we get to three or more layers, more doesn’t always mean better.
TaylorMade TP5
- Construction: 5 Piece
- Cover: Soft, Tough Urethane
- Feel: Medium Soft
- Compression: Around 87
- Price Point: $49.99
- Check today’s price
Titleist Pro V1
- Construction: 3 Piece
- Cover: Cast Urethane
- Feel: Medium
- Compression: Around 90
- Price Point: $54.99
- Check today’s price
Off the tee
There are no bad premium golf balls on the market these days, but you might be surprised by how different the TP5 and Pro V1 perform in testing.
In Trackman testing the carry distances between the TP5 and the Pro V1 were almost identical, but the Pro V1 was lower spinning, had a lower flight and resulted in more roll. Whereas, the higher-spinning TP5, had more backspin and a higher peak height and rolled out a little less.
You may squeeze an extra yard or two out of the Pro V1 if you are a golfer who naturally creates quite a bit of spin. The TP5 is higher spinning from the tee and has a slightly higher peak height – great news if you need a higher ball flight on your drives to max out carry.
Wedge shots
When we analyze wedge shots, we look at both full-swing wedge shots (~125 yards) from the fairway and shorter wedge shots from 50 yards and in.
For full-swing wedge shots, we saw nearly identical spin rates, with slightly more spin from the TP5. This plays out on the golf course with a great ability to control wedge shots and get them to grab on pretty much any playing surface.
On longer iron shots to the green, I noticed that the TP5 grabbed just a little quicker than the Pro V1. Again, to see this difference (because it’s minimal), it takes a well-struck golf ball.
The bottom line here is that TP5 is just slightly more spinny than the Pro V1. Certainly not enough to count the Pro V1 out, or to call the TP5 the better golf ball, but rather a small matter of preference.
Inside 50 yards and around the green
The performance inside 50 yards and around the green is again almost identical. I did notice the TP5 spinning just a little more out of the thicker grass, possibly due to the extra outer layers and cover.
From a clean lie, both golf balls stop on a dime. The TP5 stops just a little sooner than the Pro V1 from the rough. However, Titleist Pro V1 and the TaylorMade TP5 golf balls are a tremendous addition to any golfer’s short game.
Feel
The TP5 has a slightly softer feel than the Pro V1. Both golf balls have a soft urethane cover that helps with greenside spin and feel. Both offer great feel and feedback when putting so you’ll have no concerns when switching between these if differing feel is a concern with your pace putting.
Longevity
One of the reasons I love investing in more expensive golf balls is that they last a long time. I was a little worried about the longevity of the TP5, considering the first two layers are quite thin. However, it held up just as well as the Pro V1 and seemed to have no issues hanging around for a few loops around your golf course.
Value
The TP5 is a few dollars cheaper than the Pro V1 on average. However, with the price difference of the two balls being within a few dollars, I don’t think you can choose one or the other based on price.
The bottom line here is that premium golf balls with maximum distance, consistent ball flight, and short game spin will all be around $50 a dozen. The good news is that tour balls like these two live up to the advertising.
The Pro V1 and the TP5 do exactly what TaylorMade and Titleist say they will do. The only thing I would caution you on here is when TaylorMade calls the TP5 a low-spin golf ball off the tee but in our testing it spins more than the Pro V1 off the tee.
Golf Insider Verdict
Both the Pro V1 and Taylormade TP5 are exceptional, and we’d expect nothing else from these two world-leading ball manufacturers. This is more about optimizing your golf ball fitting and preference. Here are the things to keep in mind if you are trying to decide:
- If you are a golfer that naturally generates high spin and you’re looking for more distance, go with the Pro V1. You may find that the TP5 gets too much spin, especially off the tee.
- For golfers looking for a higher launch and more spin off the tee to optimize their launch we’d suggest giving the TP5 a go.
- For greenside spin and performance, you will find both golf balls to be super responsive. However, we’d say the TP5 has the edge on spin around the green for varying lies.
- Based on this data, and our own playing experience, we’d favour the Pro V1 for playing in the wind if you struggle with your shots ballooning up into the air.
Alternatives to consider
If the Pro V1 and the TP5 are still not the right fit for you, here are a few golf balls to consider instead.
TaylorMade Tour Response
The TaylorMade Tour Response is a three-piece golf ball with a urethane cover, built very similarly to the TP5. The Tour Response will not get the same greenside feel, but you could end up with more distance off the tee and on the iron shots. The Tour Response is, on average, about $8 to $10 cheaper than the TP5. You can check out our TaylorMade TP5 vs Tour Response review here.
Titleist Tour Speed
A cheaper alternative to the Pro V1, the Tour Speed is a great ball for generating ball speed and distance. It won’t have the same greenside spin as the Pro V1, but it does have good spin when approaching with an iron or full-swing wedge.
TaylorMade TP5x
If the standard TP5 is a little too spinny for you, the TP5x is a better choice. With the Tp5x, your ball flight is a little easier to control because spin rates are just slightly lower. The TP5x is still a premium tour-level golf ball with plenty of spin; it just spins a little less than the TP5. (We are going to test this for ourselves, but that is how TaylorMade describes the differences between these two golf balls)
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are a few of the most commonly asked questions about the Pro V1 vs. TaylorMade TP5.
Does TP5 spin more than Pro V1?
The TP5 spins a little more than ProV1, both off the tee and around the greens.
Do any pros use the TP5?
Collin Morikawa plays the TP5. If you know anything about the consistency in his iron game, this may come as no surprise.
Does TP5 or TP5x go further?
The TP5x should go a few yards further than the TP5 simply because it does not spin quite as much as the TP5. But with all golf ball fitting it depends what is optimum for you, so always be sure to test for yourself.
Can the TP5 work as a replacement for the Pro V1?
The TaylorMade TP5 is a great option to use to replace the Pro V1. The TP5 has a slightly higher greenside spin and spin off the tee. If you are a golfer who struggles to create spin, the TP5 performance could benefit you.
Happy golfing.
